Standing the cold

We spent the night at a shabby motel in Helper, Utah – it’s good location was the selling argument. On the morning of june 2nd, we only needed a short ride up Price River Canyon to Colton to witness the sunrise. We underestimated the temperature at this altitude though: shorts are not the recommended clothing when it’s -literally- freezing outside!
We knew a passenger train was supposed to pass, so we climbed to our spot. Even if we didn’t know if a train would be coming, we wouldn’t have returned to get decent clothing: it all looked way too beautiful. And lucky we were: after seeing the passenger train and freezing for only 60 minutes or so, a Utah Railways freight train is arriving at the summit.
The empty train is hauled by 6 engines, representing 17500 horses. 2 of these carry the colors of genesee & Wyoming, who purchased Utah Railways in 2002. Locomoives 1, 4 and 5 are MK50-3 types built by MK Rail in 1994, and repowered in 2003. Utah Railways owns all units built (8) of this type. Locomotives 2 and 3 are SD50S types, built under license by EMD in Australia. Utah Railways acquired them in 2001.

Not aware of the freezing temperature, an empty Utah Railways coal train led by UTAH 5003 passes through Colton. 2.6.2014